The pathology of corporations.

Economic rationalism means that this is a single bottom line economy. “Corporate ethics”, “environmental sustainability”, “social responsibility” etc usually affect that single bottom line adversely. They are all cost activities, not income producing activities, and in any business model you minimise costs and maximise income. It is much cheaper to solve problems of ethics and sustainability with spin than it is to try and actually do something tangible.

Remember that income – costs = profit, and executive bonuses are based on profit or on increases in shareholder value or share price (which are usually based on reported profits).

(From a netfriend)